Car Hire at Zakynthos Airport (ZTH)

How to Find Your Car Hire Desk at Zakynthos Airport

Zakynthos Airport, officially Dionysios Solomos, has a single terminal building in the Ambelokipi area, close to Laganas and Kalamaki in the island's south-east. Nearly every supplier operates a counter directly inside the Arrivals Hall, lining the left wall as you exit customs, with the car park for collecting your vehicle less than a minute's walk outside the terminal door. Named after the Greek national poet, born on Zakynthos, the airport is small and easy to navigate compared with larger regional hubs.

• Book through eCarBookers first: Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.
• Check your collection method on your voucher: Your booking confirmation states the exact desk location and collection instructions for your supplier. Treat this as the definitive source rather than general airport signage, since even within a compact terminal like this one it saves time to know exactly where to head.
• In-terminal desks: Nearly all suppliers at Zakynthos Airport, including local operators as well as international brands, have a counter inside the Arrivals Hall itself, immediately after baggage claim and customs. The car park sits directly outside, so no shuttle or transfer is generally needed.
• Peak season timing: Zakynthos Airport handles a heavy volume of summer charter traffic relative to its size, so allow a little extra time for paperwork during the busiest July and August arrival windows, when several flights can land close together and desks can briefly develop short queues.

Pick-Up, Drop-Off, and Refuelling at Zakynthos Airport

Out-of-hours arrangements exist at Zakynthos Airport for early flights, though exact procedures vary by supplier. One point worth knowing: the airport itself does not operate flights between 22:00 and 05:00, a curfew introduced to protect the loggerhead turtles that nest on the neighbouring beaches at Laganas Bay, so genuinely late-night arrivals are not something you need to plan around here, though early-morning departures inside that window can still mean an early desk opening.

For a full-to-full fuel policy, the closest option is an EKO station in Kalamaki, roughly 4 km from the airport. Stations immediately around the airport and ports tend to charge a premium, so filling up slightly further out, in Zakynthos Town or one of the inland villages, is worth the small detour if your schedule allows it. Most stations are attended rather than self-service, and while cards are widely accepted, it is worth carrying some cash for smaller, independent stations, particularly in rural areas away from the main resorts.

Top Car Hire Agencies at Zakynthos Airport

Zakynthos Airport is served by a mix of established international brands and well-regarded local operators, giving a genuine choice of vehicle class and price point for an island where the resort south and the wild north offer genuinely different driving experiences. Choosing to rent a car here rather than relying on taxis or organised tours is what makes the island's northern half realistically accessible during a typical week-long stay. Vehicles book out earliest in July and August, particularly automatics and larger family categories, so confirming your class in advance matters more here than at quieter regional airports.

Every booking through eCarBookers shows the excess amount and full price before you confirm, and the balance is paid on arrival at the desk. Optional extras, such as additional drivers, supplemental tyre and glass cover, child seats, or out-of-hours fees, may be available at the desk if required.

Getting from Zakynthos Airport to Key Destinations

Zakynthos Town: The shortest of these routes, around 4 km and about 10 minutes north into the island's capital. This is also the standard route for dropping the car off at the end of your trip, or for reaching the port and Bochali hill above the town.

Laganas: A short run south-west, around 6 to 9 km and about 15 to 20 minutes, reaching the island's main resort strip and the heart of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, home to the loggerhead turtles that shape the airport's own night-flight curfew.

Tsilivi: North of Zakynthos Town, around 9.5 to 10 km, this family-oriented resort makes a realistic first stop for anyone based on the island's eastern side rather than heading straight into the capital, with a quieter, more low-key atmosphere than Laganas.

Navagio Viewpoint: The longest of these routes, around 36 km, reaching the clifftop viewpoint over Zakynthos's famous Shipwreck Beach in the island's rugged north-west, a genuine full excursion rather than a quick stop from the airport, best planned as a dedicated half-day out rather than combined with much else.